Created on May 12, 1983 by the former Philippine Constabulary as the Philippine Constabulary Special Action Force^[11] as a requirement of General Order 323 of Philippine Constabulary Headquarters, Fidel Ramos and Renato de Villa were the founders of the unit. De Villa asked Col. Rosendo Ferrer and Gen. Sonny Razon to organize a Special Action Force.^[12] Afterwhich, a training program called the SAF Ranger Course, was used to train the 1st generation of SAF operators, which had a number of 149 operatives. Out of them, 26 were known commissioned officers. Later on, they changed the name of the course to the SAF Commando Course.
Initially formed to battle against NPA and former MNLF guerillas in the late 1980s and early 1990s, their tasks have been expanded to battle against organized criminal groups, terrorists, guerrillas and common criminals.
During the days of the EDSA Revolution, Fidel Ramos was involved in planning an operation called "Exercise Ligtas Isla" (Exercise Save Island) in case either Imelda Marcos or Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Fabian Ver would take over ruling from Ferdinand Marcos, who had been ill during the last few days of the Revolution.^[13]
Following recent changes, the SAF will move to a permanent camp at Barangay Pinugay, Baras, Rizal under Proclamation No. 1355 passed on August 2007^[14] from their camp in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.^[15]
For the first time, SAF operators are involved in the Balikatan exercises in 2009 since American and Filipino troops are usually involved.^[16]

[edit] Functions

As designated by the Philippine National Police, the missions of the Special Action Force are the following:^[13][17]

• To develop, organise and train organic personnel in the furtherance of the assigned mission.
• To conduct Counter-Terrorist operation in urban and rural areas.
• To conduct commando type unconventional warfare (CUW) against lawless elements over extended periods of time with minimal direction and control.
• To conduct search and rescue operations anywhere in the country during calamities and catastrophes.
• To conduct civil disturbance management (CDM) operations and address the requirements of stability and security operations in times of civil disobedience on a national scale.
• To operate as a rapid deployment force ready and capable to strike anytime and anywhere in the country in support of other units and other agencies as higher headquarters may direct.
• To perform other tasks as the Chief PNP may direct.
• To maintain a reasonable degree of law and order in the national highways and major thoroughfares

SAF 25th Anniversary
The elite but low key special action force marked its silver anniversary milestone by holding a five-day series of events from May 12-16, 2008.  the opening kicked-off at Camp Crame Quezon City wherein SAF became the OPR of NHQ’s Monday Flag Raising Ceremony. DILG Secretary Ronaldo V Puno became the Guest of Honor and Speaker of the momentous occasion. The latter, joined by SAF Director PCSUPT Leocadio SC Santiago Jr, conferred the individual awards to deserving and exemplary SAF Troopers. 

History

SAF commandos in the 1980s.

Created on May 12, 1983 by the former Philippine Constabulary as the Philippine Constabulary Special Action Force as a requirement of General Order 323 of Philippine Constabulary Headquarters, Fidel Ramos and Renato de Villa were the founders of the unit. De Villa asked Col. Rosendo Ferrer and Gen. Sonny Razon to organize a Special Action Force.^[12] Afterwhich, a training program called the SAF Ranger Course, was used to train the 1st generation of SAF operators, which had a number of 149 operatives. Out of them, 26 were known commissioned officers. Later on, they changed the name of the course to the SAF Commando Course.
Initially formed to battle against NPA and former MNLF guerillas in the late 1980s and early 1990s, their tasks have been expanded to battle against organized criminal groups, terrorists, guerrillas and common criminals.
During the days of the EDSA Revolution, Fidel Ramos was involved in planning an operation called "Exercise Ligtas Isla" (Exercise Save Island) in case either Imelda Marcos or Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Fabian Ver would take over ruling from Ferdinand Marcos, who had been ill during the last few days of the Revolution.
Following recent changes, the SAF will move to a permanent camp at Barangay Pinugay, Baras, Rizal under Proclamation No. 1355 passed on August 2007 from their camp in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.
For the first time, SAF operators are involved in the Balikatan exercises in 2009 since American and Filipino troops are usually involved.

Functions

As designated by the Philippine National Police, the missions of the Special Action Force are the following:

• To develop, organise and train organic personnel in the furtherance of the assigned mission.
• To conduct Counter-Terrorist operation in urban and rural areas.
• To conduct commando type unconventional warfare (CUW) against lawless elements over extended periods of time with minimal direction and control.
• To conduct search and rescue operations anywhere in the country during calamities and catastrophes.
• To conduct civil disturbance management (CDM) operations and address the requirements of stability and security operations in times of civil disobedience on a national scale.
• To operate as a rapid deployment force ready and capable to strike anytime and anywhere in the country in support of other units and other agencies as higher headquarters may direct.
• To perform other tasks as the Chief PNP may direct.
• To maintain a reasonable degree of law and order in the national highways and major thoroughfares